Distributing chute for concrete mixers



Sept. 30, 1941.

L. H. DRAEGER DISTRIBUTING 0mm: FOR CONCRETE MIXERS Filed May 16, 1940 3Sheets-Sheet l I L/Uyd H Dru-@175 Sept. 30, 1941. L. H. DRAEGER2,257,161

DISTRIBUTING CHUTE FOR CONCRETE MIXERS Filed May 16, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet2 L/Uyd Sept. 30, 1941. L. H. DRAEGER 2 ,1

DISTRIBUTING CHUTE FOR CONCRETE MIXERS Filed May 16, 1940 3Shee'ts-Sheet 3 L/Uyd H. Brag Patented Sept. v30, 1941 DISTRIBUTINGonu'rs FOR CONCRETE mxnns Lloyd H. Draeger, Milwaukee, Wis., assignmtoThe T. L. Smith Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of WisconsinApplication May 16, 1940, Serial No. 335,507

7 Claims.

This invention relates to concrete mixers, and refers particularly tothe distributing chutes with which transit mixers are now generallyequipped.

Transit type concrete mixers, as is well known, have mixing drumsrotatably mounted on truck chasses. In the typeof transit mixer to whichthis invention pertains, the drum is emptied through a discharge openinglocated at the rear of the unit by reversing the direction of drumrotation as distinguished from tilting the drum.

It is always desirable to have the discharge opening as high aspossible, as this permits chuting the concrete over a wider area.However, there are practical limits to the height of the drum and itsdischarge opening. Even in the specific type of transit mixer to whichthis invention is directly pertinent, wherein the drum axis is inclinedupwardly toward the rear, the height of the discharge opening is alimiting factor in establishing the effective height of the distributingchute.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a new and novelmanner of mounting a distributing chute at the rear end of a transittype concrete mixer by which a higher effective height is obtained forthe distributing chute. This increased height naturally makes possible awider range of adjustments for the chute inclination;

To fully utilize this wide range of adjustment, the present inventionhas, as another of its objects, the provision of a quickly adjustablesupporting strut by which the lower end of the chute is firmly held atany one of a wide variety of elevations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a supporting strut forthe distributing chutes of truck mixers and the like, which isself-contained and has no removable parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a strut for the purposedescribed which, in addition to the range of adjustment afforded bycomplementary telescoped elements, has an additional adjustment providedby hingedly connecting component sections of the strut.

Still another object of this invention is to provide simple latch meansfor holding the hingedly connected strut sections either in end to endrelation or folded upon each other.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed, and more particcomplete example of the physical embodiment ofthe invention constructed in accordance with the best mode so fardevised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side view of a truck mixer illustrating the application ofthis invention thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of the distributing chute and itssupporting structure;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the truck mixer illustrating the distributingchute in it's transit position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail, viewshowing the strut sections foldedupon each other;

Figure 5 is a detail'view, partly in section, of the hinged connectionbetween the strut'sections;

Figure 6 is a' view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating the strutsections disposed in end to end relation;

-Figure 7 is a detail view showing the manner in which the chute may belengthened by an additional end section;

Figure ,8 is a diagrammatic side view similar to Figure 2butillustrating more particularly the relationship between thestationary discharge spout and the movable distributing chute at thelimits of its vertical adjustment; and

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the upper end of the distributing chuteand illustrating the relationship of the fixed spout thereto.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which likenumerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates a. concrete mixerof the type shown in Patent No. 2,029,126, issued January 28, 1936, toAdolph W. Rybeck for Mixing apparatus.

The mixer is mounted on the chassis of a truck I 6, with the dischargeend I of 'its drum located at the rear of the truck to pour into afunnel-like spout'l' upon reversing the direction of drum rotation. Thespout I is supported in fixed position from the frame of the mixer withits lower end at a substantial elevation above the ground.

Positioned beneath the spout I to receive the concrete dischargedtherefrom is a distributing chute 8. This chute consists of a main chutesection 9 hingedly connected at its extreme upper end, as at ill, to asupporting link II. The supporting link II is swiveled in a bracket l2carried by the frame of the mixer and is inclined as shown to bring thepivot Ill a substantial disularly defined by the appended claims, itbeing tance away from the vertical axis of the bracket 1: about'whichthe entire structure swivels. and which is substantially in line withthe mouth of the spout I.

This arrangement, as will be readily apparent from Figures 8 and 9,utilizes the available space beneath the spout 'I' to the bestadvantage. One

bracket I2 is in line with the mouth of the spout 1' and a substantialpart of the chute overhangs this axis, part of the chute is always inposition to receive the concrete pouring from the spout; and by havingthe hinge III at the extreme upper end of the chute and spaced from theaxis of the bracket l2, maximum effective discharge height for the chuteis obtained.

The outer or lower end of the chute section 9 is supported by anadjustable strut indicated generally by the numeral l3. One end of thisstrut is hingedly-connected, as at it, to the support ll beneath thebracket 12. The other end of the strut is hingedly connected, as at IE,to the underside of the chute section 9:

The strut consists essentially of an inner section It andvan outersection I! hingedly connected as at l8. The inner section It comprisestelescoped parts I 8 and 20 adapted to be secured in different relativepositions by means of a removable pin 2| positionable in any one of aplurality of holes 22 in the part l9. The pin 2| provides an adjustablestop against which the part It bears, as will be readily apparent.

The strut sections it and I! being hingedly connected, may be moved froma position of end to end relation, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, to aposition folded upon each other, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Obviously,when the strut sections are in end to and relation, the strut is capableof maximum length; and when the strut sections are folded upon eachother, minimum strut length may be obtained.

'I'o releasably hold the strut sections in either of their two relativepositions, a latch, indicated generally by the numeral 23, is provided.vThis latch consists of a bar 24 having one end portion slidably mountedin a guide 25 fixed to the end strut section l1 and having its oppositeoperative end secured in a lateral extension 28 of a collar 21 which isslidable on the strut section II.

A compression spring 28 yieldingly urges the collar 21 and the operativeend of the bar to their outermost positions defined by a stop pin 29carried by the bar and bearing against the guide 25. Handles 30extending from the collar 21 provide means for compressing'the springand releasing the latch.

When the strut sections are in end to end relation, the operative end ofthe latch bar projects over the adjacent end of the strut section It toreleasably hold the sections in this position; and

when the strut sections arefolded upon each other, as shown in Figure4,.the operative end of thelatchbarengagesakeeperil ilxedtothe undersideof the chute section 9.

desired, an outer chute section I2 may be hinged to the section 9, asshown in Figure '1. If such meets these requirean outer chute section isprovided, it is folded down over the main section 1 during transit.

The carryingor transit position of the chute I structure, as shown infull lines in Figure 3, is the lowered position with the chute section Qsubstantially on an angle of 45 with the horizontal and swung to oneextreme position on its vertical axis so as to lie transversely of thetruck. In this position, the chute does not project beyond the sides ofthe mixer unit, and may be secured against the back of the truck in anysuitable manner to preclude outward swinging motion thereof duringtravel of the truck.

From the foregoing description. taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that thisinventionprovides a distributing chute structur for transit truck mixers havingmany advantages, among which a high effective discharge height andfreedom from loose parts are outstanding,

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a concrete mixer of the transit type: a distributing chute adaptedto receive and distribute the material dischargedfrom the mixer; asupport for the chute mounted from the supporting structure of themixer; a hinge connection between said support and the chute sopositioned that the outer end of the chute may be raised and lowered; anadjustable strut connecting the outer end portion of the chute with saidsupport, said strut comprising hingedly connected sections adapted tobedisposed in end to end relation for maximum strut length and tobe foldedupon each other for shorter strut length; and latch means for holdingsaid sections in end to end relation.

2. In combination: a chute;. means hingedly supporting the chute nearone end thereof; an

adjustable strut for supporting the opposite end thereof at variousheights with relation to the first designated end of the chute, saidstrut comprising, hingedly connected sections, a hinge connectionbetween the outer end of the outermost section and the chute enablingsaid strut sections to be swung from a position of substantially axialalignment to a position at which said end section overlies the adjacentwail of the chute and is folded upon the other strut section; and

releasable latch means for holding said strut sections in end to end'relation and/or holding said end strut section in its position overlyingthe chute. Y

3. In combination with a distributing chute mounted to have itsdischarge end raised and lowered: an adjustable strut for supporting thedischarge end of the chute at tions adapted to be disposed in end to endrelation for maximum strut length'and to be folded. 1

upon each other for shorter strut length; means hingedly connecting theouter end of the outer one of said sections with the chute so that saidouter section may be moved to a. position lying other section when saidsections are in end to end relation to releasably hold said sections insuch end to end relation; and a keeper on the While the objects of theinventionare achieved chute to receive said end portion of the latchdifferent elevations, said strut having hingedly connected secwhen saidsections are folded upon each other. 4. In a concrete mixer2' a chutefor distributing materials discharged by the mixer; a support for thedistributing chute mounted from the supporting structure of the mixer,said support including pivot means oscillatabl on a vertical axis; ahinge connection between one end of said pivot means and one end portionof the chute so positioned that the other end portion of the chute maybe raised and lowered; an adjustable strut connecting said other endportion of the chute with the opposite end of the pivot means, saidstrut comprising hingedly connected sections adapted to be disposed inend to end relation for maximum strut length and to be folded upon eachother for shorter strut length; and latch means for holding saidsections in end to end relation.

5. In a concrete mixer of the transit type: a distributing chute adaptedto receive and distribute the material dischargedfrom the mixer; asupport for the chute mounted from the supporting structure of themixer; a hinge connection between said support and the chute sopositioned that the outer end of the chute may be raised and lowered; anadjustable strut connecting the outer end portion of the chute with saidsupport, said strut comprising hingedly connected sections adapted to bedisposed in end to end relation for maximum strut length and to befolded upon each other for shorter strut length; and latch means forholding said sections in end to end relation, said latch means includinga spring pressed latch bolt carried by one of the sections and having aportion projectible to a position preventing relative angular movementof said hingedly connected sections out of end to end relationship.

6. In a transit mixer: a mixing drum of the type wherein revolution inone direction effects mixture of its contents while revolution in theopposite direction effects discharge of its contents through an open endof the drum; means mounting the drum for revolution about an axisinclined rearwardly and upwardly with its open end'elevated so that thedischarge of the drum contents is effected at a high elevation; a shortspout arranged to receive material discharged from the drum and todirect the same downwardly in a defined stream, the bottom end of saidspout determining the maximum height available 'for distribution of themixed material; a swivel bearing disposed at an elevation substantiallylower than that of the bottom of the spout and substantially in linewith a stream of materials poured from the spout; an arm rotatablysupported by the swivel bearing to revolve on a vertical axis in linewith the stream of materials poured from the spout and having its upperextremity disposed above the swivel bearing and to one side of saidvertical axis so that said extremity of the arm is rotatable in an orbitclose to the bottom of the spout and circumscribing said vertical axisand a stream of materials poured from the spout; a distributing chutefor receiving materials poured from the spout and conveying the same toa selected point; means hingedly connecting the extremity of thereceivingend of the chute with said extremity of the arm and mountingthe chute for vertical adjustment on a vertical plane passing throughthe swivel' bearing to dispose the chute under the spout to interceptmaterials poured from the spout, said location of the hinge connectiongiving the extremity of the receiving end of the chute the fixedelevation of said orbit which is close to the bottom of the spout tothus utilize the available discharge height to the fullest extent andenabling vertical adjustment of the chute from a position of steepdownward inclination to a substantially horizontal position withoutinterference from the spout, the drum and/or its supporting structurewhile the extremity of the receiving end of the chute is freelyrotatable about the vertical axis of the swivel connection as defined bysaid orbit; and means for adjust ably supporting the discharge end ofthe chute.

7. In a transit mixer: a mixing drum revoluble on a rearwardly upwardinclined axis, said drum having substantially a truncated cone shapewith the truncated apex open and disposed at the rear and the angle ofinclination of the drum axis so related to the taper of the drum sidewall that the top of the drum is substantially horizontal so as todispose the open rear end at the maximum height of the drum; said drumbeing of the type wherein revolution in one direction efiects dischargeof its contents through the open rearend of the drum; a spout having afunnellike collecting portion at the open rear end of the drum toreceive materials discharged therefrom and direct the same downwardly ina defined stream, the bottom of the spout being closely adjacent to thelower edge of the open end of the drum and defining the maximum heightavailable for distribution of the material; a distributing chute; andmeans swiveled on a ver tical axis in line with a stream of materialpoured from the 'spout for movably mounting the receiving end of thedistributing chute whereby the chute is adapted for vertical andhorizontal adjustment with the extremity of its receiving end held at afixed elevation closely adjacent to the bottom of the spout so as toutilize to the fullest extent the height available for distribution ofthe material and with the extremity of the receiving end of the chuterotatable in an orbit circumscribing said vertical axis and the chuteintersecting said axis so as to be at all times in position to receivematerials from the spout regardless of its position of vertical orhorizontal ad- J'ustment.

LLOYD H. DRAEGER.

